Victory suffered in Fontajau (81-72). Spar Girona came back from a game that started poorly thanks to the security of the inside game formed by Mariam Coulibaly (21 points), Laeticia Amihere (23 points) and the great defensive work that managed to minimize the Italian offensive of the team led by the Spanish Víctor Lapeña, which at the same time had a great performance by the Madrid-based María Conde (20 points). The victory, more even than the final result may indicate, keeps the Catalans at the top of group E, tied with Galatasaray with a balance of six wins and one loss.
A soulless Fontajau was the harbinger of the start of the game. Spar Girona, with the losses of Klara Holm and Chloe Bibby, conceded an initial partial of 2 to 10 led by conductor Constanza Verona. And when Roberto Íñiguez's team seemed to be shipwrecked, he took refuge in a safe place: Mariam Coulibaly. The efficiency of the interior and 7 practically consecutive losses allowed the locals to turn the match around (19-17) after many minutes of rowing against the current.
The ineffectiveness and the appearance of Jessica Shepard allowed Lapeña's team to once again overtake their opponents. Everyone on the floor knew the importance of winning the first game of the second phase of the Euroleague. And just when her team needed her, Arica Carter appeared leading from defense to activate her teammates in attack. The always attentive Coulibaly reacted to the call and with two consecutive actions at the buzzer of possession, she injected the energy that her team seemed to be lacking at the break (39-38).
Five consecutive points from Laeticia Amihere forced the Italian bench to stop the match as soon as the match resumed. Although the reaction did not seem to come and the locals took advantage of it to stretch the distance to +10 points, placing the maximum and punishing the rival's losses. With Cecilia Zandalasini too intermittent, it was María Conde who appeared on the scene to push and change the fate of the match. The Madrid native supported the comeback of her team, which moved within three (64-61) and created nerves on the local bench.
A triple by Laura Quevedo and the power of Amihere in the post minimized the Azzurri effort. Although Verona still had aces up his sleeve and took out one of them, in the form of a triple, to tighten the screws (70-66). With two minutes and four points ahead, anything could happen. But it seemed that Quevedo was not willing to go home with a defeat. A three-pointer from the Madrid player from the stratosphere made it +7 with 74 seconds remaining and sealed the game.
Technical sheet
81 – Spar Girona (21+18+23+19): Canella (2), Jocyte (14), Carter (6), Guerrero (4), Coulibaly (21) -starting five-; Quevedo (9), Amihere (23), Pendande (2) and López (-).
72 – Beretta Famila Schio (19+19+19+15): Verona (17), Conde (20), Laksa (3), Keys (7), Shepard (16) – initial five -; Zandalasini (5), Andre (4), Panzera (-) and Zanardi (-).
Referees: Gyorgyi, Obertova and Mansson. No eliminations.
Incidences: Matchday 1 of the second group stage of the Euroleague played in front of 2,034 fans at the Pavelló de Fontajau, in Girona.
